Background
GELINAS, Gratien was born on December 8, 1909 in St.-Tite-de-Champlain, Quebec. Son of Mathias Gelinas and Geneve Davidson.
GELINAS, Gratien was born on December 8, 1909 in St.-Tite-de-Champlain, Quebec. Son of Mathias Gelinas and Geneve Davidson.
College, de Montreal, School of Higher Commercial Studies, Montreal.
La Dame aux Camdlias 1942, Tit-Coq 1952, Bonheur d’occasion 1982, Agnes of God 1984, Les Tisserands du Pouvoir 1987; director first production L’alouette 1958, played Charles VII in English adaptation The Lark; wrote Bousille et les justes, appearing in title-role at Montreal premiere 1959, then on tour in Canada including Vancouver Institute Festival 1962, Seattle World Fair 1962; wrote, produced, and acted in Le diable a quatre (satirical review) 1964, author and director Hier les enfants dansaient, Montreal premiere 1966, appeared in English adaptation Yesterday the Children were Dancing, Charlottetown Summer Festival 1967; wrote and played title role in La Passion de Narcisse Mondoux, Le Theatre du Petit Bonheur, Toronto Le Theatre du Rideau Vert, Montreal 1987; f. La Comddie-Canadienne. Montreal, after taking over Gaiety Theatre 1957, General Director 1957-1972; La Dame aux Camelias 1942, Tit-Coq. leisure interests: classical music, boating, tennis, skating, travel. Producer, born 8 December 1909, St.-Tite-de-Champlain, Quebec. Son of Mathias Gelinas and Geneve Davidson. First marriage Simone Lalonde 1935.
Joined La Sauvegarde Insurance Company as accountant 1929-1937. Casual radio and stage performances, including creation of character of ‘Fridolin’ in series of monologues at cabaret Mon Paris, Montreal, culminating in appearance in Televise-moi-pa, St. Denis Theatre, Montreal 1936. Radio debut with ‘Fridolin’ in Carrousel de la gaite (later Le train de plaisir) 1937, Fridolinons Revue 1938.
Left radio for theatre 1941. Directed, produced and starred in annual reviews, Montreal and Quebec City 1940-1946. Leading part in St. Lazare’s Pharmacy, Chicago 1945, wrote and starred in TV serial Les quat’ fers en Pair 1954-1955.
Fridolinades (revue), Orpheum Theatre, Montreal 1956. Appeared as Charles VI (Henry V), and Doctor Caius (Merry Wives of Windsor), with Stratford Shakespearean Festival Company, Stratford (Ontario) and Edinburgh Festival 1956. Director first production L’alouette 1958, played Charles VII in English adaptation The Lark.
Wrote Bousille et les justes, appearing in title-role at Montreal premiere 1959, then on tour in Canada including Vancouver Institute Festival 1962, Seattle World Fair 1962. Wrote, produced, and acted in Le diable a quatre (satirical review) 1964, author and director Hier les enfants dansaient, Montreal premiere 1966, appeared in English adaptation Yesterday the Children were Dancing, Charlottetown Summer Festival 1967. Wrote and played title role in La Passion de Narcisse Mondoux, Le Theatre du Petit Bonheur, Toronto Le Theatre du Rideau Vert, Montreal 1987.
F. La Comddie-Canadienne. Montreal, after taking over Gaiety Theatre 1957, General Director 1957-1972. President Association ('anadienne du Theatre Amateur 1950-1961.
President Canada Theatre Institute 1959-1960. Founding; Chairman Canada Film Development Corporation 1969-1978. Honorary D Litt. (Montreal) 1949, (Toronto) 1951, Honorary Doctor of Laws (Sask) 1966, (McGill) 1968, (New Brunswick) 1969, (Trent) 1970, (Mount Allinson) 1973.
Grand Prix'(Dramatists Society) for Tit-Coq 1949, Film of Year.
Board of Governors, National Film Board of Canada 1950-1952. National Theatre School of Canada 1960. Royal Sw. of Canada since 1958.
Married 1st Simone Lalonde in 1935 (died in 1967), five son one daughter. Married 2nd Huguette Oligny in 1973.